The Delhi International Airport has issued an advisory warning passengers of potential disruptions in flight operations due to dense fog. The airport has stated that flights not equipped with CAT III compliance may face delays or cancellations.
"Flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected, and passengers are requested to contact the airline for updated flight information," the advisory stated.
Dense fog covers Delhi-NCR
New Delhi woke up in dense fog on Wednesday, disrupting flights and two train services. Indira Gandhi International Airport has issued an advisory warning of possible flight delays, especially for those that do not have CAT III compliance. Passengers were urged to check with airlines for updated flight schedules. IndiGo Airlines also advised passengers to check the flight status before flying to the airport.
Visibility from the Dwarka Expressway to other destinations like Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurugram was very poor, further affecting passengers.
Fog disrupts train services
At least 20 Delhi-bound trains were delayed due to fog. The affected trains include Goa Express, Purva Express, Kalindi Express and Rewa-Anand Vihar Terminal SF Express.
CAT III technology in focus
CAT III technology enables aircraft to land in low-visibility conditions. It represents an advanced precision landing instrument classified as CAT I, II and III based on visibility and decision height.
Weather and temperature
The minimum temperature in Delhi on Wednesday touched 9 degrees Celsius, while on Tuesday, it dropped to 7 degrees Celsius amid light rains. The rain caused traffic jams as residents headed out to enjoy the Christmas Eve festivities.
Air quality improves
Delhi’s air quality showed signs of improvement, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to lift Stage IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). However, restrictions under Stages I, II, and III remain in effect.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) improved from “severe” to “very poor,” with a reading of 369 on Tuesday evening and 333 on Wednesday morning. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) defines AQI levels above 400 as “severe” and 301-400 as “very poor.”
The improvement was attributed to favorable meteorological conditions, including enhanced wind speed, as per forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).
Upcoming weather changes
The IMD predicted a further drop in temperatures in Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan over the next two days due to northwesterly winds. Scientist Naresh Kumar mentioned that a western disturbance is likely to bring light rain or snowfall to the western Himalayan region.
Temperatures in Rajasthan and Haryana may fall to 4°C, potentially triggering cold wave conditions. Another western disturbance arriving on December 26 is expected to bring hailstorms, thunderstorms, and moderate snowfall in the Himalayan region on December 27-28.
Travel advisory
Travelers are advised to stay updated on flight and train schedules and take precautions against the cold wave and reduced visibility in the coming days.
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